The Conference of the Parties (COP) is where most governments gather in a bid to implement the 2015 global agreement to keep global warming from rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to target not more than 1.5°C above that level.
The basis is to come together with good intentions, share ideas, learn from each other and commit to keep going.
Ten years on and it’s a real mixture of good news and bad. This year, the global temperature did breach 1.5°C above and the temperature path currently looks like it will leave us with a world at 2.8°C above in 2100. That’s not good news. We have to reduce use of fossil fuels.
Growth in emissions slowed
It’s worth remembering the good news too.
The gathering in the Amazon reminds me of what the world has achieved together. In the past 10 years, we have changed the car industry, so one in five cars globally are electric. Growth in global emissions have slowed.
Some 60% of countries are now reducing their fossil fuel emissions. Solar and wind power generation is continuing to soar and is now actually cheaper than fossil fuels. That’s going to keep it growing fast. National Net Zero targets cover 83% of global GDP.
The UK has itself reduced emissions by over 50% but looks like it may miss getting to a reduction of 68% by 2030. We need to carry on using more EV cars and also accelerate the use of heat pumps rather than gas for home heating and eventually pub heating.
Bringing optimists together
What COP does is bring together the optimists like those winning Earthshot Prizes. I love that it is the future king, William, who promotes this prize for the best initiatives likely to help sustain our planet.
One of the winners this year was The High Seas Treaty – an agreement to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas, addressing over-fishing. So far, 60 nations will sign up to achieve the targets like protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. And another Lagos Fashion Week has required designers to commit to sustainable fashion.
And in other news from COP, Norway – a country smaller than the UK – committed $3bn to Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a global fund lead by Brazil to reward countries for protecting their forests. It’s going to be cheaper to do this than deal with the consequences of a hot planet.
And two weeks ago, Zero Carbon Forum, the hospitality industries’ version of COP, gathered to share the successes and optimism of its members in reducing carbon and cost and reimagining menus, even pies. There’s plenty to get going on for pubs and restaurants that actually creates more profit. You can get involved. Beef & Oyster pie was one of the ideas, with oysters reducing the carbon impact. I just love a good pie with good intentions.
- Hamish Stoddart founded Peach Pubs and is coach, strategic adviser and non-executive to other smaller businesses.
